This race could not be held in a more beautiful area. The American River snakes it way from the heart of the Sierras and ends up in Sacramento. Though it goes thru an urban area, the entire river is a state park. About a 1/4 mile on each side is forested woodlands and riddled with beaches and people.  The course was 12 miles long navigating six miles up stream then
back to the finish.

All around Perfect day in the sun. I think It is called the Yo Yo race as all the awards were recycled trophies. Some were acually quite comical. I got a 4 foot trophy with a kayak duck taped to the top. Not sure what I will do with this one.

Carter

Hey Gang! Team Merrell/Zanfel’s Travis Macy is kicking butt in the rondonee skiing, snowshoeing, and snow multisport season too! Here are his stats so far….

2010 Team Merrell/Zanfel Ambassador Travis Macy:

1st, Mt. Taylor Quadrathlon (8 stages of cycling, running, skiing, and snowshoeing; 5,000′ vertical gain), Grants, New Mexico

1st, Frisco Nordic Center Ski-O, Advanced Course, Frisco, Colorado

3rd, Endurance Challenge at Sunlight (12-hour randonee ski race, 28,500 vertical feet gained), Glenwood Springs, Colorado

4th, Tennessee Pass Winter Triathlon (snowshoe, snowbike, skate ski), Leadville, Colorado
Middle of the Pack, Elk Mountains Grand Traverse (42-mile backcountry ski race), Crested Butte, Colorado

Travis also is fantastic at updating his blog with great photos and stories after each race. Here’s a link to his latest and greatest!

http://followtravismacy.blogspot.com

Woo hoooo! Our M/Z ambassador team and Team Project Athena are making friends and spreadin’ the love in 8 different sports and all over the world. Sweeet. Xo robyn

Hey guys! Quick msg from Team Merrell/Zanfel’s Carter Johnson before Day 3 at Devizes to Westminster. Sounds like paddling is quite the ’scene’ over there. I told him y’all were very proud of him and sending him the best juju you can muster.

From Carter:
“Thanks! It has been tons of fun. 600 people started this race and absolutely 1000’s of spectators as it winds through all the major suburbs and then eventually down town London. Kayak racing in Europe is a very big deal. All the schools have programs as well as clubs in about every township.  What a fantastic way to see the English country side and the cites! I had a massive smile on my face as we passed Windsor Castle.  Nobody knew me coming into this race,  but with the orange shirt standing out uniquely, I am getting a ridiculous amount of cheers for me by name now.  What a great feeling.  Even better is the opportunity to hang  out with and socialize with all the internationals after the race.  I love England.”

Dig it. More soon! Xo Robyn

Yeah! Team Merrell/Zanfel’s Carter Johnson is holding 3rd place at the Devizes to Westminster paddling race! Check out these gorgeous day 2 photos. D2W is a truly world class competition, and we are SO proud of him. Amazing. If he gets on the podium, he will be recognized as a major factor in paddling on a world scale, outside of the pure ultraendurance realm (which he already owns for winning the 265 mi Texas Water Safari, the Missiour River 340 and holding the Guinness Book 24 hour flatwater world record). 2 more days to go! Xo Robyn

Another wild day on the canals and Themes.  I lost more time on first and second place Athletes from Germany and the UK but was able to put 10 more minutes into my position for 3rd.  Day 2 started out on the canals then at last reaches the Themes where we finally have current.  Still well over 20 portages in the first section.  They have some very good youth programs over here and it is absolutely impressive with how well some of them are going.